Rapid glacier mass loss in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau since the year 2000 from satellite observations

Maritime glaciers in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) featuring largest maritime (TP) have been experiencing dramatic mass loss and interannual variability over past two decades, increasing risks of glacier avalanches glacial lake outbursts. However, spatially explicit high-temporal-resolution entire SETP has not well quantified. We developed an approach to integrate satellite altimetry (ICESat, CryoSat-2, ICESat-2) with DEM differencing gravity resolve high spatiotemporally resolved surface elevation change balance across for decades. generated DEMs from ASTER L1A stereo-images estimate multi-year change, which was used correct altimetry-based counterpart. Subsequently, we processed three different data total water storage (TWS) products specifically. Finally, obtained time series through integration altimetry-, gravity-, DEM-derived changes during 2000–2020. Results show rapid heterogeneous depletion a mean rate −0.66 ± 0.02 m equivalent (w.e.)/yr 2003–2020 accelerating trend The strongest downwasting observed Hengduan Mountains (−1.29 0.32 w.e./yr). Contiguous distributed mostly Bomi County slower but play dominant role regional balance. Glacier terminus types significant impact on melting. lake-terminating is 45% higher than that land-terminating glaciers, suggesting outbursts caused by melting SETP. These features will be extremely valuable calibrating validating glaciological hydrological models. Our also shows promising application CryoSat-2 mountain glaciology its potential estimating balances similar regions globally. • differencing, altimetry, were jointly used. ICESat-2 study glaciers. Two decades series. Spatially maps subregions provided. Accelerating effect lakes estimated.